Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.
Why it matters
A grim, unflinching dive into the banality of evil that strips away horror’s usual trappings to expose pure, chilling human darkness.
- Michael Rooker’s deadpan, haunting performance redefines the serial killer as terrifyingly ordinary.
- David R. Ellis’s raw, documentary-style direction predates and arguably influences the true crime obsession in horror.
- No supernatural scapegoats here—just brutal, minimalist violence that forces you to confront real-world monstrosity.
- A foundational entry in American indie horror, it’s essential for fans of psychological and crime-based terror alike.
Director
4 horror films in catalog
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
100
Slow Burn
83
Psychological
57
Supernatural
0
Creature
0
Disturbing
100
Fun Factor
0
Cerebral
85
Survival
17
Home InvasionSerial Killer
